Heater



Jan. 16, 1945. c. M. KIMBERLIN HEATER Filed July 12, 1943 z What/11111111 GARNA M. KIMBERLIN INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 16, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,367,356 HEATER Carna M. Kimberlin, Spokane, Wash.

' Application July 12, 1943, Serial No. 494,310

6 Claims.

My invention relates to a heater and more particularly to heater means for the fluids used in connection with internal combustion engines for the purpose of maintaining those fluids at a temperature above freezing although the outside temperature may be below freezing.

All forms of internal combustion engines require a heat absorbing medium when operating and this system is commonly called the cooling system" and is designed to circulate water or other fluids around the engine cylinders to maintain a proper working temperature. When such an engine is at rest the cooling system rapidly takes on the temperature of the adjacent air and if low temperatures prevail freezing of the coolant and often damage to the engine may take place. It is well known that a cold engine is difficult to start and especially When using the heavier fuels as Diesel oil. It is desirable therefore to provide an apparatus capable-of maintaining an idle engine of the type herein mentioned in a Warm starting condition and to prevent, freezing by heating and circulating the coo-lant through the engine and the radiator and accessory parts of the power plant, and that this be done wherever the power plant may be, and especially when the said plant may be isolated from a source of electrical energy which is one form of power that may be used where facilit es permit.

In a time when all forms of transportation energy is at its peak and time is an essental factor, it ishighly important to have all forms of transportation using and depending on the power of internal combustion engines ready for instant starting. This ma apply to cars, trucks, mobile army units, as tractors, tanks, boats and planes, and all forms of motive power however applied.

It is said that a battle may be lost through delay of a single unit to arrive at its destined station on time. Such a cause of delay may be due to the time to warm up the engine or eifect a rapid start in cold weather. Frequently un ts are allowed to idle pending need, consuming hard to get fuel and advising the enemy of its presence. These and other important featur-s of the device solve heretofore needs in the field to which it relates.

Modern warfare requires great numbers of mobile units that cannot always follow a beaten path or roadway and that when in trouble must be ditched along a roadside, in an unlevel field or such like in which case the vehicle may be tilted at any odd angle. It is highly important.

therefore, that the heater ofthis invention be adapted and adjustable to meet and operate under all normal and abnormal conditions and this has been provided for in the manner set forth herein.

Another army requirement in such a device is that no light or fire may 'be-detected outside the heater unit to act as a give away and this has been provided for by unique structure and devices to meet the condition.

The necessity for economy and space saving is met by using a corrugated form of heater tube to rapidly absorb the heated gases and to require a minimum of space and a corrugated top in the casing around a portion of the tube to direct the flow of heat as well as to add strength to the casing.

Having in mind the defects of the prior artheaters, it is an object of this invention to provide a heater for engines that is easily maintained in use.

Another object of the invention is the provision, in a heater of the type described, of a gravity actuated valve element that may be accommodated to the position and plane in which the heater is normally mounted so that it will operate even though the engine may be resting at an angle to the normal.

A still further and more specific object of my invention is to provide, in a heater as described, a heater transfer unit that will readily and efliciently apply the heat put into the device to the fluid passing therethrough.

The foregoing objects and others ancillary thereto I prefer to accomplish as follows:

According to a preferred embodiment of my invention, I dispose within a casing, a heater or heaters of the flame type, storage means and pressurizing accessories for the fuel employed in producing the flame, and a fluid conductor for the handling of the fluid and for the application of the heat to the fluid. The shape of the heat transfer tube is an important part of my invention. In this tube is also provided a valve means designed to control the directional flow of the fluid. In the casing variable gas vent means are provided for controlling the movement of the gases of combustion to and from the flame and at the same time for shielding the flame for certain purposes.

The novel features that I consider characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of a specific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view along the median of my heater,

Figure 2 is a vertical heater, and

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view of a valve employed in my heater assembly.

A heater to overcome the defects hereinbefore enumerated must have at least two totally distinct characteristics; it must becapable of heating a large amount tions and with rapidity and in a manner that the heating action produces the necessary circulation; and it must be capable of performing its desired functions with the tion and service.

Accordingly, the preferred embodiment of the invention, referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, is constituted by a casing in which the end walls and H support by its end a fuel reservoir I2, here shown to be cylindrical. In the reservoir is a pressure pump ll for the purpose of applying pneumatic pressure to the fluid contained. A suitable pressure and fluid level gauge is indicated at i6. Supported by the reservoir thereabove is shown a pair of burners l1, l8 of the Coleman or other similar type and in which the pressurized fuel of the tank is atomized and caused to burn with a flame of great intensity. A cleaner needle lever I9 and a fuel control valve handle 20 are also indicated.

Above the burners is mounted .the heat exchange tube 22 which is here shown to be corrugated or of accordion shape longitudinally of the tube.

At its intake'end, to the right in Figure l, the

cross sectional view of my tube 25 fitted therein. Tube 25 is rotatably mounted in the header with the flange 26 disposed inwardly of the header and the nut 21 in opposition outwardly of the header. A gasket is indicated at 28 between the nut and the header to seal the joint therebetween. On the upper inner end of valve tube is hingedly mounted the valve plate 29; This latter swings upon the hinge pin 30 and closes the inner end of the tube 25.

At the outlet end of the heat exchange tube 22, a reducer nipple 32 is provided and it is intended that the usual hose conduits employed in engines be coupled thereto. The same is the case with the tube 25 to which is shown fitted the hose 33.

This latter described apparatus is enclosed by the side walls 35, 36 and curved top wall 31 of my casing. These walls join with the end walls for this purpose as shown in the drawing. In the curved top wall conformation is employed similar to that of the heater tube 22 and in spaced relation thereto.

Between side wall 36 and the curved top wall 31, a longitudinal opening 40 is formed for the escape of the gases of combustion from the heater. A hinged closure leaf ll serves to vary the size of the opening. The leaf 4! has end wings 42 and is mounted to swing about the upper hinge pin 43. It will be seen its wings form a very effective light shield for the opening so that the flame may not be viewed from the sides or above. End walls l0 and II also of fluid under severe condi- I minimum of attenv .tube is coupled to a header 24 that has valve ass-mes of the heater tube 22 so that liquid therein is also heated. As the heated liquid becomes lighter with heat, it expands and flows from the tube 22 whereupon'the current set up draws cooler liquid, in through the valved end of the tube. That is valve 29 swings as indicated by dotted line position shown in Figure tend the cold liquid enters the hot zone of the system. Any movement of the liquid in a reverse direction is arrested by the automatic closure of the valve plate against its seat on the end of tube 25.

A swivel clamp 48 on the wall 36 engages a boss or ball 41 for adjusting movement of the easing. In the drawing the ball 41 is supported from plate 48 which is preferably mounted upon the engine or an adjacent support. By this manner of mounting my heater it is possible to adjust the unit for various conditions of terrain, that is to say a vehicle inclined to the horizontal such as a stalled truck, tank in a ditch or other pieces of equipment may have its heating device independently adjusted and be effective under all conditions to keep the engine from freezing or warm for immediate starting in cold weather, and is especially valuable when Diesel fuel oil is used, which requires higher temperature for starting.

A further and important feature resides in the rotatably mounted valve 29 which normally operates at its best when the heater is substantially level or horizontal, since the weight of the valve flap or plate holds the valve closed. When conditions are extreme the valve assembly may be rotated to maintain the device in its proper working position and thereby cover a. wide range of conditions that are to be met in warfare, on the farm, in fact wherever liquid fuel engines are operated.

Although I have shown and described certain specific embodiments of my invention, I am fully aware that many modifications thereof are possible. My invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except in so far as is necessitated by the prior art and the spirit of the appended claims.

The above description pertains principally to application of the heater to a circulating cooling system found in motive power plants. It has been found that by suitable arrangements of conduits from the heater, the heated fluids may as well be directed to heat through the use of suitable coils or heat plates, the fuel supply, the crankcase, the transmission and diiferential and even the batteries where extremely low temperatures are encountered.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

that the leaf and have louvres 44 forventing the casing and at the 1. A circulatory heater for liquids comprising: a casinghaving end walls supporting a heater unit including its fuel supply, a heat exchange tube passing through the end walls above the heater unit and extending beyond the casing for connection in the circulating system, and a check valve in said tube adjacent to one end of said casing arranged to open toward the center of said casing upon the convective flow of fluid through said tube.

2. A circulatory heater for liquids comprising: a heat exchange tube provided for connection in the fluid line, a check valve in one end of the tube, a heater burner in juxtaposition to the heat exchange tube, a ventilated casing supporting and surrounding the heat exchange tube and burner and having a side opening for exit of combustion gases therefrom, and a leaf mounted on said casing and extending longitudinally thereof means carried by said casing for mounting the same in upright position upon a tiltable support in diflerent tilted positions of the support.

3. A circulatory heater for liquids comprising:

.a corrugated heat exchange tube, a check valve in said tube mounted for unidirectional flow of liquid, therethrough, means for connectingsaid tube at its ends in aliquid circulating system, a burner supported adjacent the tube and to act thereupon, a casing supporting the heat exchange tube and the burner and having ventilation openings, and a universally adjustable means secured to the casing for mounting the heater.

4. A portable device for use in connection with internal combustion engine cooling systems to maintain the engine cooling liquid warm during periods of idleness of the engine, said device comprising a'casing including side and end walls, a heating unit in and supported by said casing, a tube to be connected in the cooling system between the engine and the radiator of the system so as to have the cooling liquid flow therethrough, said tube being mounted in the end walls of said casing and extending through said casing above said heating unit to be heated by the latter, a check valve in said tube adjacent to one of the end walls of said casing to open toward the center of said casing whereby heating of said tube by said heating unit causes unidirectional flow of the liquid in the system, and adjustable means carried by said casing for mounting the device in difierent attitudes upon a support. 7

5. A device as set forth in claim 4 in which the casing has a ventilating opening in the upper part of a side wall thereof, in which a leaf over lies said opening and is pivoted at its top to said casing above said opening for swinging adjustment to regulate flow of combustion gases from the casing through said opening, and in which said leaf is provided with end wings for cooperation with said leaf and the casing to shield said opening from view from points above the same.

6. A portable device for use in connection with internal combustion engine cooling systems to maintain the engine cooling liquid warm during periods of idleness of the engine, said device comprising a heat-exchange tube, a burnerin juxtaposition to said tube for heating a portion thereof, a check valve of the pivoted flap type in said tube adjacent to one end of the bumerheated portion thereof, swivel means mounting said valve for angular adjustment about the longitudinal axis of said tube to dispose the pivotal axis of the flap of said valve horizontally when the device is disposed in a tilted position, a casing substantially enclosing and supporting said tube 0 and saidburner, and means carried by the device for mounting the same upon a support.

0mm M. KIMBERLIN. 

